UK Self-Driving Technology Company Wayve Introduces new AI model LINGO-1

UK self-driving technology startup Wayve has launched LINGO-1, a vision-language-action model (VLAM) for self-driving that is set to enhance the learning and explainability of its AI Driver technology powering self-driving vehicles. Prior to LINGO-1,  AI neural nets have provided limited insight into why and how they make decisions.

Gaining deeper insight into the decision-making and reasoning capabilities of its AI models helps ensures that Wayve can build a safe driving intelligence for self-driving. 

Trained using real-world data from Wayve’s expert drivers commentating as they drive, LINGO-1 can explain the reasoning behind driving actions.

Incorporating language in this way provides a new type of data for interpreting, explaining and training AI models.

In addition to commentary, LINGO-1 can respond to questions about a diverse range of driving scenes.

This feature allows Wayve to make improvements to the model through feedback. 

Wayve is based in London and California, with a fleet of vehicles testing in cities across the UK.

It aims to be the first company to deploy autonomy in 100 cities. 

Alex Kendall, Co-founder & CEO of Wayve, says: “LINGO-1 marks a big step for embodied AI: aligning vision, language and action to deliver more intelligent and trusted autonomous vehicles. We are excited by the capabilities we observe from LINGO-1 today and we believe natural language will provide a powerful step change in how we understand and interact with robotics.”

Kendall adds: “At Wayve, we’re investing in pushing the boundaries of cutting-edge science to deliver a safer, smarter and more sustainable future of transport, resulting in LINGO-1. LINGO-1 opens up many possibilities for self-driving, improving the intelligence of our end-to-end AI Driver as well as bridging the gap of public trust – and this is just the beginning of maximising its potential.”

Wayve has raised over $258M and is backed by the likes of Virgin, and Ocado Group.